I just checked AA--the same flight I booked yesterday in coach would cost me an extra $6,033 to fly business with restrictions. Yikes.

P.S. I should have said "would have cost me $6,033 more." If I was to try to upgrade after having purchased my ticket, it would cost even more, I imagine.

<b>Maire</b>

take a look at this....

<i>Date: 10May - Wednesday
Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES 2309 McDonnell Douglas Super MD-80(S80) Booking Code: A
Departure: ORD Chicago 08:15 AM 2HR 25MIN
Arrival: DFW Dallas/ Fort Worth 10:40 AM
FrequentFlyer, AA
SEAT 3E <b>First</b> FF# :AA 1234567


Date: 10May - Wednesday
Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES 61 Boeing 777(777) Booking Code: C
Departure: DFW Dallas/ Fort Worth 12:05 PM 13HR 10MIN
Arrival: NRT Tokyo 03:15 PM
FrequentFlyer, AA
SEAT 10D <b>Business</b> FF# :AA 1234567


Date: 16May - Tuesday
Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES 176 Boeing 777(777) Booking Code: C
Departure: NRT Tokyo 12:25 PM 11HR 20MIN
Arrival: DFW Dallas/ Fort Worth 09:45 AM
FrequentFlyer, AA
SEAT 10D <b>Business</b> FF# :AA 1234567


Date: 16May - Tuesday
Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES 2342 McDonnell Douglas Super MD-80(S80) Booking Code: A
Departure: DFW Dallas/ Fort Worth 11:15 AM 2HR 15MIN
Arrival: ORD Chicago 01:30 PM
FrequentFlyer, AA
SEAT 3E <b>First</b> FF# :AA 1234567




Receipt
PASSENGER TICKET NUMBER FARE TAXES TICKET TOTAL
FrequentFlyer, AA xxxxxxxxxxxxx 619.00 USD 84.20 703.20
Payment Type: AAdvantage Certificate
VISA ************1234

Total
703.20 USD</i>

This is not a joke. You just have to know how to play the game...

Aaargh! I don't know how to play the game, and I don't have FF miles; our fares are $3,008 combined ($1174/$1834) in coach, of course.

Great fare for you! And I hope you enjoy your trip to Tokyo!!

P.S. Well, we do have FF miles with Delta, but that still didn't help.

AAFF, btw, do you have any hints of how to get upgraded at the airport, for free that is? If you just go to the check-in counter and ask, any luck of that working?

Maire, until AAFF responds I can tell you how one person on a flight from LHR to MIA was upgraded from coach to first class.

Her seatmate (she didn't know him) was being deported from the UK to Jamaica &amp; had stashed a razor blade in his Afro. When he got on the plane he slashed his wrists. The flight was delayed for quite a while as the blood is considered hazardous material.

The flight crew were furious because the government didn't notify them this guy was being deported.

Why wouldn't the razorblade have set off the metal detector?

Oh, wow, Carry, not a good way to get upgraded, that's for sure!

I don't know if it did &amp; they just used a wand on him but didn't check his head. They took him off the plane via outside steps &amp; he sat there while the police conversed among themselves &amp; an ambulance attendant wrapped his wrists.

Finally, they got the plane cleaned up &amp; we were allowed to reboard &amp; take off. He didn't have blood spurting everywhere but enough to delay his deportation &amp; I guess freak out the lady but they did escort her up to First.

Lots of good tips already, and I feel for you as I live in Seattle, and yes, it's a LONG flight...but one thing not mentioned that has helped me is a product called No Jet Lag. You can get it at health food stores--it's herbal, and I understand you can get it on the Internet, though I go to a health food store for it. I use it both ways and it seems to help.

I also take Ambien to sleep, but before you do this, make sure you test it at home--different people have different results (it kept DD UP all night!)

YEs, it's a LONG flight, but once you're in Venice, it will be worth it, believe me!

Have a great trip and report back to us.

AA-we travel alot and obviously I don't know how to &quot;play the game&quot; as we have never received a fare like that and in Business class...unheard of.

Care to let us in on the secret?

I remind myself I'm on vacation. Even schlepping thru airports, sleepless on planes in the middle of the night, beats sitting here at the office... that's for sure. Along with staying calm, taking deep breaths, remember you're on vacation &amp; this is supposed to be FUN!!! (Yes, even the plane ride. Heck it costs enough, might as well try to enjoy it!)

Very good advice from Fodor's posters. Be sure to wear a pair of support hose to prevent blood clots.

katie - Do you think that support hose with the feet cut out would provide the same blood clot resistance? I hate having my feet bound up in hose. thanks!

Thank you ALL for your wonderful input! I've, of course, printed this thread already.

AAFF, I, too, would like to know the tricks of getting upgraded. I just joined AAFF program as I booked my tickets so I haven't accrued any miles yet. I am taking my first transatlantic flight this July and would love to find a way to upgrade without getting a 2nd mortgage on my house to pay for it. Any ideas? Thanks!

Let me make one very important point very clear - you do have to fly a good deal, and flying one airline is the way to do it, but there is more...

and if you want to learn, pick the program you prefer and then read, read, read, and did I say read, as much as you can on www.flyertalk.com, your favorite airline forum. I joined the board back in 2001 and I have learned so much. That's why today I'm flying to Japan in business class for $700 R/T, but before you get all excited, you need to understand that this will not happen unless you do fly a good deal to begin with....

Good luck!

Thank you for your prompt reply. Have a great trip to Japan.

Thanks AA.